Turns out Erasure isn’t the only group delivering a new holiday record this year: Southern California punk kings Bad Religion will put a decidedly rougher spin on seasonal classics like “Hark! The Herald Angles Sing” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” next month with the release of the aptly titled Christmas Songs.
Billy Bragg will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his debut album Life’s a Riot with Spy vs. Spy — featuring the singer-songwriter’s classic “A New England” — next month with a new reissue that features a newly remastered version of the original record plus a live solo version of the full album recorded in London.
The third round of 5 Albums box sets from reissue label Beggars Archive — pitched to fans as “the last chance to present (these) albums as physical releases in the foreseeable future” — will collect full albums, singles and assorted bonus tracks from Bauhaus, Fields of the Nephilim and Gene Loves Jezebel.
Throwing Muses return this fall with their first new record in a decade, but it’s much more than just an album: Purgatory/Paradise is being published as a 64-page book designed by drummer Dave Narcizo featuring lyrics, stories and essays by Kristin Hersh, not to mention the 32-track album on CD.
Trevor Horn’s groundbreaking electro-pop label ZTT Records is commemorating a major milestone this fall with The Organization of Pop: Music From The First Thirty Years of ZTT Records, a new 2CD, 28-track compilation that collects tracks from Propaganda, Art of Noise, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, 808 State and more.
The three long-out-of-print studio albums released by the original lineup of The Lords of the New Church — the so-called postpunk supergroup that featured frontman Stiv Bators of The Dead Boys and guitarist Brian James of The Damned — between 1982 and 1984 will be reissued on CD this fall.
The 3CD/1DVD box set commemorating the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s third and final album In Utero that was announced last month will include a brand-new mix of the album, a host of B-sides, compilation cuts, alternate mixes and early demos — plus a previously unheard instrumental.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 